Happy Monday you guys! I thought this little color burst would be a fun way to start the day. I wore this look out and about on Sunday but feel like this is a fresh, casual vibe I could rock all week long. And seeing as its a holiday week, I just might.

I’m looking forward to flying to North Carolina on Thursday morning for a long weekend with my family and a reunion with my darling Becks! Hope everyone has fun plans for Thanksgiving and, of course, killer outfits to go along :) Let us know what you think about these crazy shoes and what you are up to this week in the comments!

Actually, its been on my mind for a while now. Between moving out of my college apartment this spring (Three years worth of impulse H&M purchases and junk mail people!), getting back to my parents house in Eastern North Carolina, and then packing it all up in my tiny car to head out to California, it has been a year of changes. The logistics have been exciting, scary, and maybe a bit trying at times- I mean I only called Becca in tears- what was it two or three (hundred) times?

For my first six months in Ventura I have been living in a teeny tiny (read: 350 sq. feet) studio. It seems though, that the new year is bringing along with it new digs and a new roommate which all adds up to- lots of new projects and decorating (which I of course can’t wait to share here!) But I have to say, though I’m looking forward to moving out and up, I’ve really enjoyed my tiny space. It was a challenge to make cozy and functional while still feeling personal.

So, to celebrate the tiny nooks and crannies we 20-somethings always seem to find and pay way to much for in cities far and wide, I’m going to share a few of my favorite tips and tricks for making your small home feel like a castle (haha just kidding- but hey you’ll still like the way it looks!)

Keep it light, keep it brightTry to stick with minimal curtains, embrace that natural sunshine baby!

Pick a color theme and stick to itNothing can make a small space feel more overdone than too many colors competing for attention. In my experience, what works best is a nice light palette with one or two pop colors. In my apartment I’ve been trying to stick to white, navy, and green.

While you’re at it maybe one of those colors should be greenJust like keeping your windows uncovered, adding plants and greenery into your space can help pull the outdoors in and make your space feel more open and bright. Plus it’s fun to have something to nurture… right?

Don’t be afraid to fill up the wallsI am a big advocate of the gallery wall. Photographs, prints, trinkets, almost anything can be framed and hung up for instant added coziness. Plus nothing can help a space feel more like a home than little reminders of good times. Just be mindful of your overall color scheme when selecting your frames!

Edit, Edit, EditLess furniture, less clutter on tabletops, just less. Whatever you can edit out of the equation, you probably should. In tiny apartments you want to save your room to dance around in your favorite outfits, not for another footstool or whatever.

This weekend I traveled up the coast a few hours to Big Sur for a weekend of camping, hiking- and let’s be honest: s’mores eating. Our trip included four tents, three (adorably color coordinated black and white) dogs, two nights of laughter and starry skies, and one fabulously successful proposal!

Our time was rather limited so we had to make the most of it. Here are a few of my recommendations for a weekend adventure in Big Sur.

Stay: Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. We spent two nights in the south campground here and it was absolutely lovely. Shady and quiet, this park offers a ton of camp sites, a few great trails to explore, and a nice lodge if you need to escape from nature for a quick cup of coffee

Explore: Jade Cove Beach. This stop on Highway One offers stunning mountain and sea views and a chance to hunt for jade on the rocky beaches. Apparently most of the green colored rocks are actually serpentine, not real jade, but a girl can dream right? Pictured in the second set of pictures below- P.S. my nail color here is Essie’s Carry On and it has been my go to this Fall!

Here are a few of my camping essentials. After all, what is an adventure without the right outfit?

I used to think the only appropriate time for sneakers was never. Man was I wrong. Lately I have been daydreaming of the bold design, fun colors, and- let’s face it- comfort that really only seem appropriate in an old fashioned lace up shoe situation.

I don’t know guys maybe I’ve been sucked in by these enviable adorable street style images (P.S. click through for links!), or maybe working at an active wear brand is getting into my head, but I’m starting to rethink my footwear game. Especially after I saw that Mary Katrantzou is collaborating with Adidas on a collection of fresh sportswear and shoes, out this month. Christmas present anyone?

Check out a few of my other picks for fun kicks below! I’d love to pair any of these with black jeans or an oversize dress and then hop on my bike and zip off to work (in semi-appropriate style!)via Adidas, Nike, Converse, and New Balance

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So what do you think about this track shoe trend? Love it or hate it? Let us know in the comments!

Let’s get this confession out of the way right off the bat. My ideal outfit is a comfy, crazy printed dress and no shoes. While it’s true I love all things luxurious (think silk, think embroidery, think lovely soft leather) I’ve always felt more comfortable working near the glamour than living in it.

As a design student I spent a lot of time cultivating a design aesthetic without taking the time to consider what my personal style was all about. The result is a crazy closet mash up. Look inside and you will find a pinch of print (a large pinch,) a foundation of white and black basics, and a few coveted items (my great grandma’s costume necklace, a beaded handbag, that navy lace dress, my mom’s old 70’s denim jacket with the little mushrooms embroidered on the pocket.)

What are my fashion influences? Well, these are the facts:

I was born and raised in a small town in eastern NC. Easter dresses (and hats and gloves,) peter pan collars, and well stocked dress up closets were my bread and butter. As were sparkly bathing suits, acid wash hand me down denim, and jelly sandals.

My college years were spent in Raleigh NC learning about all things fiber and fashion. Cue an uptick in black, uptight, designer-esq looks that mark a definite phase in my fashion history. Peppered, of course, with all the necessary “going out” outfits and my staple- desperately tired, flannel heavy looks.

My most stylish moments you ask? A tie between the time Becca and I went as “the universe” for Halloween and the to-die-for beaded dress I haggled down to my price range and wore to my first ever fashion show. See photographs below.

Recently, I’ve relocated to another planet. That planet is Southern California. My major struggles here center around whether red lipstick is “too much” for daytime and if it is acceptable to wear cut off shorts to work.

Here’s another confession: I’m no fashion guru. I’m just a normal girl trying to find my inner style sweet spot. If you read along I can’t always promise it will be glamourous. I can, however, promise that I will- without shame- try all the crazy hats, hot pink lipsticks, and be-feathered items I come across and write about all the awkward and maybe (just maybe) fashionable moments that ensue.

I love sunflowers- just ask Becka! So this little smocked top number pretty much screamed my name from the racks of one of our (many) local thrift stores. A little alteration and it’s a perfect easy dress for the sunshine-ey Southern California November we’ve been having. I paired this with a denim jacket for a night out and dressed it up with a pop of red in the lipstick and sandals. But it seems to work just as well paired with my trusty bright turquoise backpack and mirrored sunglasses for weekend errand running.

I have to say I am a little weirded out by this whole sundress two weeks before Thanksgiving thing- but I think its something I can get used to!